Health and Education Cabinet Secretaries have issued conditions for the reopening of schools scheduled for Monday, May 10.
Appearing in an interview on Citizen TV on Monday, April 26, Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said that they were analyzing the Covid-19 positivity rate.
The CS also said they are evaluating the trajectory of daily recorded cases as well as tracking the double mutant variant in India after which they would make an informed decision on whether to reopen schools or not.
He noted that they have to be assured of the safety of parents and students. Kagwe acknowledged that some learners live in diseased zones such as Nakuru, Nairobi, Kiambu, Machakos, and Kajiado Counties which are currently under lockdown and cessation of movement.
The lockdown and cessation of movement are set to expire on May 29, 19 days after school reopening.
“If the positivity rate rises and parents and students are put at risk, then we will be forced to postpone (reopening). There is no way we are going to risk the lives of our children at one time.
“Reopening of schools is particularly of concern and we are going to keep an eye on developments. In the meeting we had, we were briefed well by CS Magoha. We are confident that they (Ministry of Education) are taking sufficient steps at the moment and facing the pandemic in a better manner,” Kagwe lauded Magoha.
Kagwe assured parents that they were battling the crisis in schools and that the vaccination of teachers would limit the spread of the virus in learning institutions.
“The main threat when it comes to schools is not the students. The challenge is the school workers and teachers. We have carried out vaccination on teachers and we are confident that we can still man the pandemic.
“It is a fluid situation and decisions will be made as we watch them and evolve them,” Kagwe stated.
Education CS Professor Magoha had asked all learners and parents to prepare for school reopening but was cagey on the reopening date. Magoha announced that face-to-face learning would most probably resume on Monday, May 10.
“The timetable remains as we had decided earlier in the year and by the grace of God, children will come to school at the time we said they should come to school,” stated Magoha.
Kagwe confirmed that the positivity rate was declining following the cessation of movement and lockdown imposed by President Kenyatta.